Tim Sheridan officially kicked off his campaign for Congress Monday with a ribbon cutting at his campaign office in Murrieta.

The lifelong Democrat will oppose Republican incumbent Ken Calvert in the Nov. 4 election to determine the southwest Riverside County area's representative in the 42nd Congressional District. The area includes Menifee, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Winchester and surrounding communities. Calvert has represented the area in Congress for 22 years.

At left, Sheridan was greeted on Monday by Howard Katz, chairman of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee.

Sheridan, who grew up in Syracuse and has an extensive background in labor law, serves as the Democratic State Central Committee AD 67 Executive Board Representative. He also is co-chair of the Riverside County Democratic Party’s Ways and Means Committee and is a member of the Executive Board of the Democratic Club of Southwest Riverside County.

In an interview during his campaign center's opening on Monday, Sheridan said his goal is to bring a fresh approach that will help unify the members of Congress and adapt to the area's changing needs.

"We need to change what's happening in Washington," Sheridan said. "One of the problems is those people who have been in there in Congress for a long time, like my opponent. He's lost touch with the average person in the area.

"We saw what happened last year when the government was shut down. That was not beneficial for anyone. We need to send someone to Washington who will work with all parties -- Democrats, Republicans and Independents -- to work on issues that need to be resolved."

One of Sheridan's priorities is the creation of more jobs in the area. He said his goal is to provide local residents with the opportunity to work closer to where they live, adding revenue to local cities in the process.

"If we can bring more jobs to the area, that will benefit everyone," he said. "It will benefit people who need work and it will increase the amount of money that comes into the area. It increases property values.

"We live in a wonderful part of the country ... this is an affordable area to live. It's prime for more jobs to come here for the people who live here."

Sheridan said he would also focus on securing Social Security funds for those who have paid into the system -- and without privatizing that system. He also favors green technology and plans to fight for federal funds to help increase road construction and reduce local traffic problems.
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